HTTP 3xx status code
302 Found
302 Found is the temporary redirect. Like a 301, it sends a client from one URL to another, but the meaning is the opposite in one crucial way: the move is not permanent. The original address stays the real one, and browsers and search engines are told to keep using it rather than swapping it out for the new location.
That difference decides when each is right. Because a 302 is temporary, browsers do not cache it the way they cache a 301, and search engines keep treating the original URL as canonical, so the old page holds on to its ranking rather than passing it along. Send visitors to a holding page during maintenance, split traffic for an A/B test, or point somewhere else for a brief promotion, and a 302 is the correct choice, because you want the original URL to come back.
The common mistake is using a 302 for a move that is actually permanent. Do that and search engines may keep the old URL indexed instead of the new one, which is usually the opposite of what you want. The rule of thumb is simple: if the original address will return, use a 302, and if it will not, use a 301. The name “Found” is a historical quirk from the early web and says nothing useful about what the code does, which is why people almost always just call it a temporary redirect.
Frequently asked
What is a 302 redirect?
A 302 redirect is a temporary redirect. The server sends the client to a different URL for now, while keeping the original address as the real one. Browsers and search engines are told not to replace the old URL, because the move is not permanent.
What is the difference between 301 and 302?
A 301 is permanent and tells everyone to use the new URL from now on, passing ranking signals across. A 302 is temporary and keeps the original URL as the canonical one. Use 301 for a lasting move and 302 only when the original will return.
When should I use a 302 redirect?
Use a 302 when you are sending visitors somewhere else briefly but plan to bring the original URL back, for example during maintenance, an A/B test, or a short-lived promotion. For anything permanent, use a 301.